Systems and methods for obtaining anonymized information derived from data obtained from external data providers

Abstract

Techniques are described for providing access to anonymized user data derived from external data providers. A persona management system generates a searchable data store containing metadata related to a plurality of users of the persona management system. The metadata includes entries indicating: a first identifier of a user of the plurality of users of the persona management system, a second identifier of an external data provider of a plurality of external data providers that possess data related to users of the persona management system, a third identifier of an algorithm that is used to transform data possessed by the external data provider related to the user of the persona management system into one or more transformed data values, and the one or more transformed data values. In response to requests from various data consumers, the persona management system uses the metadata to identify users matching specified search criteria.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 generating, by a persona management system, a searchable data store containing metadata related to a plurality of users of the persona management system, the metadata including entries indicating:
 a first identifier of a user of the plurality of users of the persona management system, 
 a second identifier of an external data provider of a plurality of external data providers that possess data related to users of the persona management system, 
 a third identifier of an algorithm that is used to transform data possessed by the external data provider related to the user of the persona management system into one or more transformed data values, and 
 the one or more transformed data values; 
 
 receiving a request to obtain identifiers of users matching one or more criteria, wherein each of the one or more criteria is related to an algorithm of a plurality of algorithms used to generate the searchable data store; 
 identifying, based on the searchable data store, one or more users of the persona management system that are associated with one or more transformed data values satisfying the one or more criteria; and 
 providing anonymous identifiers of the one or more users of the persona management system that are associated with one or more transformed data values satisfying the one or more criteria. 
 
     
     
       2. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata is generated at least in part by a plurality of remote agents, and wherein each remote agent of the plurality of remote agents is running at a computer system managed by a respective external data provider of the plurality of external data providers, and wherein each remote agent executes one or more algorithms against data possessed by the respective external data provider to obtain the transformed data values stored in the searchable data store. 
     
     
       3. The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein each remote agent of the plurality of remote agents executes the one or more algorithms against the data possessed by the respective external data provider on a periodic basis. 
     
     
       4. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the anonymous identifiers are associated with a session with a data consumer sending the request to obtain the anonymous identifiers. 
     
     
       5. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more transformed data values include one or more dimensionally reduced values, wherein the one or more dimensionally reduced values obfuscate the data possessed by the data provider about the user of the persona management system. 
     
     
       6. The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , wherein the dimensionally reduced value is one or more of: a Boolean value, a range of values, a value from an enumerated set of values. 
     
     
       7. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the user of the persona management system, a request for data contained in the searchable data store related to the user; and 
 providing to the user the data contained in the searchable data store related to the user. 
 
     
     
       8. The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request to send data to one or more users of the persona management system, the request identifying the one or more users using the anonymous identifiers; 
 determining the one or more users associated with the anonymous identifiers; and 
 sending the data to the one or more users. 
 
     
     
       9. A system comprising:
 a remote agent implemented by a first one or more electronic devices, the remote agent including first instructions that upon execution cause the remote agent to:
 generate metadata to be stored in a searchable data store of a persona management system, the metadata related to a plurality of users of the persona management system, the metadata including entries indicating:
 a first identifier of a user of the plurality of users of the persona management system, 
 a second identifier of an external data provider of a plurality of external data providers that possess data related to users of the persona management system, 
 a third identifier of an algorithm that is used to transform data possessed by the external data provider related to the user of the persona management system into one or more transformed data values, and 
 the one or more transformed data values; 
 
 
 the persona management system implemented by a second one or more electronic devices, the persona management system including second instructions that upon execution cause the persona management system to:
 receive a request to obtain identifiers of users matching one or more criteria, wherein each of the one or more criteria is related to an algorithm of a plurality of algorithms used to generate the searchable data store; 
 identify, based on the searchable data store, one or more users of the persona management system that are associated with one or more transformed data values satisfying the one or more criteria; and 
 provide anonymous identifiers of the one or more users of the persona management system that are associated with one or more transformed data values satisfying the one or more criteria. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the metadata is generated at least in part by a plurality of remote agents, and wherein each remote agent of the plurality of remote agents is running at a computer system managed by a respective external data provider of the plurality of external data providers, and wherein each remote agent executes one or more algorithms against data possessed by the respective external data provider to obtain the transformed data values stored in the searchable data store. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein each remote agent of the plurality of remote agents executes the one or more algorithms against the data possessed by the respective external data provider on a periodic basis. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the anonymous identifiers are associated with a session with a data consumer sending the request to obtain the anonymous identifiers. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more transformed data values include one or more dimensionally reduced values, wherein the one or more dimensionally reduced values obfuscate the data possessed by the data provider about the user of the persona management system. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the dimensionally reduced value is one or more of: a Boolean value, a range of values, or a value from an enumerated set of values. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second instructions upon execution further cause the persona management system to:
 receive a request to send data to one or more users of the persona management system, the request identifying the one or more users using the anonymous identifiers; 
 determine the one or more users associated with the anonymous identifiers; and 
 send the data to the one or more users. 
 
     
     
       16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause performance of operations comprising:
 generating, by a persona management system, a searchable data store containing metadata related to a plurality of users of the persona management system, the metadata including entries indicating:
 a first identifier of a user of the plurality of users of the persona management system, 
 a second identifier of an external data provider of a plurality of external data providers that possess data related to users of the persona management system, 
 a third identifier of an algorithm that is used to transform data possessed by the external data provider related to the user of the persona management system into one or more transformed data values, and 
 the one or more transformed data values; 
 
 receiving a request to obtain identifiers of users matching one or more criteria, wherein each of the one or more criteria is related to an algorithm of a plurality of algorithms used to generate the searchable data store; 
 identifying, based on the searchable data store, one or more users of the persona management system that are associated with one or more transformed data values satisfying the one or more criteria; and 
 providing anonymous identifiers of the one or more users of the persona management system that are associated with one or more transformed data values satisfying the one or more criteria. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the metadata is generated at least in part by a plurality of remote agents, and wherein each remote agent of the plurality of remote agents is running at a computer system managed by a respective external data provider of the plurality of external data providers, and wherein each remote agent executes one or more algorithms against data possessed by the respective external data provider to obtain the transformed data values stored in the searchable data store. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the anonymous identifiers are associated with a session with a data consumer sending the request to obtain the anonymous identifiers. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more transformed data values include one or more dimensionally reduced values, wherein the one or more dimensionally reduced values obfuscate the data possessed by the data provider about the user of the persona management system. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the dimensionally reduced value is one or more of: a Boolean value, a range of values, a value from an enumerated set of values.